WASHINGTON -- Guard Bradley Beal believes the Washington Wizards must "push back" against the Boston Celtics' physicality if the Wizards hope to rally from an 0-2 deficit in an Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Beal was limited to 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting over 47 minutes and missed a buzzer-beater at the end of regulation in Washington's overtime loss in Game 2 on Tuesday.
Speaking at Washington's morning shootaround before Thursday's Game 3 (8 p.m. ET, ESPN), Beal said the Celtics are making the games "a little nasty" and wants the Wizards to respond in kind.
"The grabbing and holding, it's a part of toughness. That's their way of taking us out of the game," said Beal, who is averaging 25.8 points per game in the postseason. "They want to make it physical, want to make it a little nasty. We gotta be the same way. We gotta be physical, we gotta hold, grab a little bit, hit guys. Keep it clean but at the same time make sure they feel us."
Added Beal: "We get fouled a lot but it's the playoffs. We can't complain, can't be passive. We gotta push back."
Beal stressed that he didn't feel like the Celtics have been dirty with their play but believes the Wizards must simply increase their own physicality, especially after 5-foot-9 point guard Isaiah Thomas scored 53 points on Tuesday night.
John Wall scored 40 points for the Wizards in Game 2 but was quiet in the fourth quarter and overtime when Thomas produced 29 of his points to lead Boston to victory. Wall did not go through the team's shootaround Thursday and said he's "a little banged up" with minor wrist and ankle ailments, but nothing that would prevent him from playing in Game 3.
The Celtics acknowledged Wednesday before their offday practice in Washington that they have tried to make things difficult for Beal this series.
"Once we hear [Beal's] sets being called -- I just think our awareness on his play-calling is very high. I think every guy on the court on the court is on a string with him," Boston swingman Jae Crowder said. "We're trying to make it as tough as possible for him because we know he can get it going. Just keep different bodies on him, keep different looks, and not letting him feel comfortable."
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said the Celtics have tried to make it as tough as possible on Beal, and he is unlikely to miss some of the shots he missed in Game 2.
As for how the Wizards might slow down Thomas, who is averaging 43 points over the first two games of the series, Beal admitted there's no easy answer.
"He's small, he's fast," Beal said. "He has a really good chance of pace, change of direction. He can stop on a dime, pull up. He's very difficult. As tough as it is we have to contain him. We gotta do our best of get it out of his hands."
Despite all the extracurricular activity that occurred during regular-season meetings between the two teams, the Celtics and Wizards have mostly played nice in this playoff series.
Al Horford and Markieff Morris are not exactly on speaking terms after Morris shoved Horford into the crowd in Game 2, and Thomas later got a double technical with Morris.
Both teams, however, have managed to contain their emotions early in the series despite the physical play.
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